"The Hope of Things Changing for the Better" - 3rd Sunday of Advent Homily

What is the greatest speech you've ever heard?

I don't mean the greatest speech in history, like I Have a Dream or the Gettysburg Address, but something that you heard that it was given to you, whether a talk or speech

or sermon, that's a tough question to answer.

I think it's a good one.

to see what moves us?

What's behind it?

What was so powerful or moving about it?

My answer is a cop out.

There was one line in the conversation a priest gave me.

He said Greg, this is my body means this is my body.

As a 21 year old clueless Catholic, it changed my life, not just in the teaching of the Eucharist, but that God is here with us, in the flesh.

So much so we rejoice in a Christmas happens at every Mass, essentially.

And then of course, the realization I need to prepare better to receive Him in communion.

And that brought in all the confessions and the changes of life that for the better, completely life-changing sentence.

And so as we think about and ponder what has moved us the most, by the words of another.

That's kind of what Jesus has people asking themselves when he says, why did you go out to the desert to see him?

What was it about John that the crowds flocked to him?

Last Sunday, was like the whole region of Judea came for baptism of John.

What was he saying and what was behind his words?

It was the power of God.

pretty certain that what you're thinking of or may think of this week of the most moving words that have been spoken to you in your presence, whether publicly or privately,

It was from God.

Now you might be thinking of something that was emotional or sentimental.

Like for me, like Lou Gehrig at Yankee Stadium, right?

That's emotional.

I'm just kidding.

That's my sports emotions coming out.

But that could be from God too.

I'm not saying it's not.

If it's good, it's from God.

And we don't just think of prophets as delivering religious messages only.

The prophet speaks for God and what is good.

So when Jesus is asking, why did you go out there?

I think of all those people are hearing something so strong, it the power of God.

Even Herod, King Herod was there listening.

There was a power greater than him at work and he was attracted to it.

So I think that's the answer to what Jesus asks of why John the Baptist?

Why are we drawn to prophets?

Why are we drawn to those men and women who speak truth to us with love?

And what are the most effective words that we've heard in a speech or a talk or a sermon?

I think it's those that bring about change.

Real change, good change, change for the better.

So when Jesus tells John's disciples,

about what's going on with him, Jesus.

He tells them, tell John things are changing.

Change is happening.

The blind regain their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and so forth.

John would have recognized that because that's what the prophets promised.

Change in Christ.

change with these physical conditions, miraculous changes, big time stuff, promise word for word.

If you line up the first reading today with the Gospel, the eyes of the blind, the open, the ears of the deaf, the cleared, the lame, the tongue, the mute, and so forth, they line

up exactly.

And Jesus is saying these changes are happening now, these are the signs that the Christ is here.

So it was changes in physical condition, miraculous changes, but also changes in nature.

He gives a few examples that are little bit maybe obscure for us.

The desert will exalt the steppe, like a grassland will bloom.

Last week was all these relationships with the animals that maybe enemies are now going to have harmony.

So changes in nature.

And then big time changes.

If you heard these, I hope these grabbed your attention.

Changes in human nature.

Dare I say a change of heart is greater than a miracle.

As much as we get into miracles, and as spectacular as they are, changes like this, feeble hands are strengthened, weak knees are made firm, maybe like walking in snow or ice, maybe

that's for later, made firm, be confident going home.

It's a tough crowd this morning, you guys are not really with me here, all right.

Like this isn't very funny, you're not very good.

I'm looking, I'm searching.

Frightened hearts will be strong and fear not

These are major changes in human nature.

That's what's promised.

And that's what Jesus tells John disciples to report to him, these changes are happening.

This is cause for rejoicing.

While we stress this today, enlighten the color, change the color to bring hope.

This is true hope.

We can change.

Things can change for the better.

There things in our lives that we don't think can change.

But if blindness can change, if weakness can change, fear can change, it can change in Christ.

That's a source of great hope for us.

That God will prevail, that good will prevail.

We all want the good.

We all want what is good.

Every single one of us.

So that each one of us should rejoice.

With the hope that good will happen, good will prevail, things can change in Christ and things do change in Christ.

When we see it in others, maybe the word you're thinking of, the speech was a friend or family member who said, things have changed for me.

What I've experienced in prayer, in the Eucharist, in scripture study, things of the faith of the church, that's the powerful, most powerful words of all, the power of witness.

You see a change in them, you tried on for yourself, and now things are changing in you.

We have reason to hope.

We have reason to hope in Jesus Christ and that brings great rejoicing that good will prevail.